Xavi renewal closer after new meeting

Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain and Barcelona general director of football Raül Sanllehí held yesterday morning a new one-and-a-half-hour meeting with Iván Corretja, the agent of Barcelona attacking midfielder and Spanish international Xavi (28), whose contract expires in 2010.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the negotiations are slowly proceeding in the right direction. The final deal should nevertheless only be expected in a few weeks time. There still would be differences about the salary and the duration of the contract, with Xavi asking a contract until 2014 and Barcelona offering to renew until 2013 (read more here).

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona has made a new financial offer, which would make Xavi the best paid Spanish player in the squad. As for the contract duration, the parties could be looking to agree on a contract until 2013 that could be automatically renewed for another year if certain condiditions are met.

Barcelona site Pelikano claims that Xavi wants to be one of the five best players of the squad. Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that a final deal is very close after yesterday's meeting. There would be a deal on the salary and Xavi would sign until 2013. With only a few details left, a new meeting would be scheduled for next week.

Asked about the renewal negotiations, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said to journalists that he's satisfied with the progress: "Our sports director Txiki Begiristain informs me regularly about the negotiations. At this moment things are going in the right direction, because both parties want Xavi to continue as player of FC Barcelona. I don't know if he has received offers from other clubs, but I think that Barcelona is the only option for Xavi now.

He knows that we will do everything that is needed and possible, and probably even a little more since he's a former youth player. For us, Xavi is a key player and an example for all our youth players. It shows how Barça takes care of the homegrown players and at the same it proves that you can get to the first team and become a worldclass player with hard work and motivation."

Read more:
Principal agreement on Xavi renewal
Xavi is top target for Manchester United
New Xavi renewal meeting scheduled next week